[Day 14 — 10 days left]
The H City Beauty Pageant was a spectacle of grace, ambition, and simmering rivalry. Massive chandeliers bathed the grand stage in warm golden light, illuminating a pristine runway that stretched confidently toward an eager audience. Cameras flashed relentlessly while the judges sat poised with elegant composure, pens in hand, prepared to crown this year's queen of beauty.
Backstage, contestants adorned in dazzling gowns waited anxiously for their turn, each carrying dreams of victory behind their composed smiles. Among them stood two figures whose beauty and presence seemed almost untouchable — Grace and Christina.
They were long-time rivals, locked in a silent war of elegance and ambition. Yet tonight, Grace had not come to compete fairly. Losing was never part of her design, and before the night ended, she intended to make sure Christina would never stand in her way again.
Backstage, Christina adjusted her earrings while staring calmly into the mirror. Her reflection looked composed, confident — almost serene. But in the glass behind her, another figure appeared.
Grace had arrived.
She stood just a few steps away, arms folded across her chest, watching.
Grace:(Smirks) Damn, Christina… you actually look half-decent tonight.
Christina: Cut the crap, Grace. If you're here to—
Grace:(Dramaticsigh) Relax, princess. I'm just admiring the view. It's not every day I get to see you looking this… put together.
Christina: You can throw all the shade you want, but we both know who's taking the crown tonight.
Grace: Ooo… such confidence. Trust me, I wouldn't miss this for the world.
Christina:(Narrowinghereyes) You're up to something. You always are, aren't you?
Grace: Me? Please. I'm just here to enjoy the moment. You, on the other hand… might want to watch your step out there.
Before Christina could fire back, her name was called to the stage. She cast one final glance at Grace before turning and walking away.
Grace: Hm. All according to plan. Time for me to play my role.
As Christina waited near the stage, ready to step into the spotlight, Grace approached the mirror behind her.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward—
—and slipped inside the mirror itself.
Within the reflection's hidden dimension, Grace moved freely through the mirrored space that displayed Christina's image. Living beings could not be seen within this realm, but objects reflected in the mirror were visible to Grace.
And tonight, that was all she needed.
Grace: I've kept my powers hidden since the very first day I discovered them. I'm neither a villain nor a saint… just a woman who wants to win for once in her life.
She moved closer to Christina's dress, which Christina was wearing at that very moment beyond the mirror.
Grace: You were my only rival — the one immovable obstacle standing in my way. But I'm not heartless… so I'll spare you the humiliation. Just not the injury.
Her fingers brushed against Christina's heels.
A simple touch was all it took.
Their strength vanished.
In the real world, the heels appeared unchanged, elegant as ever. But within the mirror dimension, their form had altered, transforming into fragile glass heels ready to shatter under pressure.
Grace: Consider this… my kindness.
With that, she stepped out of the mirror dimension, unaware that a CCTV camera had been silently recording everything.
The audience erupted in applause as each contestant walked the stage. The spotlight bathed them in radiant light, accentuating their grace and elegance.
Then, at last—
It was Christina's turn.
She stepped forward, poised and confident, the sapphire gown flowing gracefully behind her. Cameras flashed while the judges nodded in quiet approval.
Then—
Crack.
The heel of Christina's right shoe shattered.
She gasped, her balance faltering. A heartbeat later, the left heel snapped as well.
Before she could recover, her footing gave way.
She fell.
A sharp cry escaped her lips as she struck the stage hard, her knee slamming painfully against the polished floor. The crowd erupted in shocked murmurs while several contestants rushed to her side.
As they examined her leg, the injury quickly became visible. A dark purple stain began to spread across her knee — the unmistakable sign of a hematoma.
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A hematoma is more than a simple bruise. It begins with a deep, throbbing pain, followed by sudden discoloration — dark purple at first, sometimes turning nearly black — as blood collects beneath the skin. The affected area swells, tightens, and becomes tender to the touch. Over time, the trapped blood gradually fades through shades of blue, green, and yellow, a slow mark of the body's quiet process of repair.
Christina's injury was a moderate hematoma, one that would require two to six weeks to fully heal.
________________________________________
Paramedics arrived quickly, and Christina was rushed to the hospital. Her thoughts were clouded, her mind drowning in anguish. Just before she was lifted into the ambulance, her eyes met Grace's.
Grace returned the gaze with a cold, prideful stare.
Grace:(Softly) Told you to watch your step… didn't I?
Christina: Y-you—
But before she could finish, the ambulance doors slammed shut and sped away.
Now that Christina was gone, there was no one left to challenge Grace.
In the end, the crown was placed upon her head.
Miss H City.
Announcer: And the winner of the H City Beauty Pageant is… Grace!
The crowd erupted into applause, though faint whispers could still be heard among the cheers. Grace stepped forward with elegant composure, accepting the crown and sash, her smile flawless.
A microphone was handed to her.
She took a deep breath and began to speak.
Grace: I–I am truly honoured… to receive this prize. Ever since I was little, I dreamed of this moment — of standing here before all of you. It's just… hard to believe this is real."really happening. I suppose hard work truly does pay off. Any of the contestants standing here tonight could become what I am someday as well.
She paused, her smile bright beneath the stage lights.
Grace: All I want to say is this—dream big… but act bigger. Thank you.
The audience burst into applause as the host stepped forward to take the microphone and deliver the closing remarks.
As the crowd slowly dispersed, a lone figure remained seated at the far end of the hall.
Nathan — more specifically Ember Nate, the last one — had been observing everything.
And something about the entire event felt… wrong.
Rising from his seat, he made his way toward the security room. Just as he approached the door, a guard stepped forward to block his path.
Guard: Excuse me, sir. This room is off-limits. Please step back.
Nathan: It's alright. I'm an S-Class hero.
Guard: With all due respect, sir… I'm sorry, but I can't let you in. Rules are rules.
Nathan:(Thought) What the hell is this guy's problem…? Sigh… Guess I'll do this my way.
He turned and walked away without another word.
But the moment he disappeared around the corner—
His body dissolved into a streak of fire and smoke.
In a flash, Ember Nate surged forward like a blazing trail, phasing through the wall and slipping straight into the security room.
Inside the security room, a lone guard had dozed off in his chair. Dozens of surveillance feeds flickered across a massive wall of monitors, each displaying a different camera angle from around the venue.
Nathan glanced at the sleeping guard and clicked his tongue.
Nathan:(Thought) Tsk… We're paying for this Sleeping Beauty? Sheesh. Give me a break.
He turned his attention to the screens, quickly scanning through the footage.
Before long, he found the exact moment he was looking for.
Grace.
The footage showed her stepping into the mirror… and emerging moments later.
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
The guard stirred, half-awake, noticing Nathan standing in the room.
Guard: Hey… what are you—
Before he could finish his sentence, Nathan struck him with a swift blow, knocking him unconscious once more. Without wasting another second, he left the room to confront Grace.
Outside the hall, Nathan spotted Grace climbing into a taxi.
Instead of approaching her directly, he decided to follow from a distance.
Fifteen minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of a luxurious hotel, and Grace stepped out before disappearing inside.
Nathan watched from across the street.
Nathan: What could a woman like you possibly be doing in a place like this…?
???: Excuse me, sir?
Nathan turned toward the voice.
To his surprise, it was a hotel employee — someone who looked both nervous and excited.
Apparently, the man had just realized that the person standing before him was none other than Nathan himself.
A huge fan.
Worker: Oh my gosh… it's really you! The Number One—
Nathan raised a hand quickly.
Nathan: Hey, hey, hey. Easy. Keep it down.
The worker immediately straightened, embarrassed.
Worker: R-right! I'm so sorry! It's just… I'm your biggest fan, and… you're really standing right in front of me.
Nathan studied him for a moment before glancing toward the hotel behind him.
Nathan: Hm… You work in that hotel?
Worker: Yes, sir. Do you need anything?
Nathan's eyes drifted toward the worker's uniform — and suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind.
Nathan smiled faintly.
Nathan: Say… how would you like to help me out? You could save the day… and become my hero.
For a brief second the worker froze — then his eyes lit up like fireworks. He nodded so enthusiastically it looked like his head might fall off.
A few minutes later, Nathan walked through the hotel entrance.
Except now he wasn't Nathan anymore.
Dressed in a hotel worker's uniform, he blended almost perfectly with the staff moving about the lobby.
Nathan:(Thought) Good. Now all I need to do… is find where she's staying.
To locate Grace's room, he would need access to the guest registry kept at the reception desk.
Nathan slowed his pace as he passed through the lobby, casually scanning the staff behind the counter. After a brief glance at one of the receptionists' name tags, he caught the name.
Sharon.
Nathan circled back and approached the desk with a relaxed smile.
Nathan: Oh, Sharon…
Sharon looked up from the reception desk.
Sharon: Yes?
Nathan: The boss wanted to speak with you.
Sharon: Why? He could've just called.
Nathan: He said he wanted to discuss some… matters. In private.
Sharon sighed, clearly annoyed but not suspicious.
Sharon: Fine. Take my spot for a minute. I'll be right back.
She stepped away from the desk.
The moment Sharon disappeared from sight, Nathan moved quickly.
Time was short — she would be back in only a few minutes.
He opened the guest registry and scanned through the names with sharp, practiced eyes. After a brief search, he finally found what he was looking for.
Grace.
Sixth floor.
Room 103.
Nathan immediately closed the register and stepped away from the desk before Sharon could return and grow suspicious.
Nathan:(Thought) Good. I'm making progress. Now I just need a reason to get into her room…
A moment later, Nathan made his way to the Room Service Dispatch Area, blending seamlessly among the hotel staff.
Soon enough, an order request came through.
Room 103.
Nathan didn't hesitate.
He grabbed the catering cart before anyone else could claim it and headed straight for the elevators.
Moments later, Nathan stood inside the elevator, the catering cart beside him as the doors slid shut.
The elevator hummed softly as it carried him upward.
Sixth floor.
The doors opened.
Nathan pushed the cart forward, slowly making his way down the corridor toward Grace's room.
He stopped in front of Grace's room and knocked on the door.
Grace: Who is it?
Nathan: Room service.
Grace: Come in.
Nathan pushed the door open and wheeled the cart inside. Grace sat at the vanity, calmly painting her nails, seemingly unconcerned.
Nathan closed the door behind him.
Nathan: Before I leave, I'd like to ask you a few questions.
Grace glanced over her shoulder, mildly annoyed.
Grace: Hm?
Nathan's voice turned firm.
Nathan: You're the one who caused the accident at the beauty pageant… aren't you?
Grace's expression hardened.
Grace: Excuse me?
She stood up abruptly, fury flashing across her face.
Nathan didn't move.
Nathan: You have abilities… don't you?
Grace froze.
Grace: How did you—
Her words died in her throat.
Her eyes drifted downward.
On Nathan's wrist was a WHA watch.
In that instant, realization struck her like lightning.
She knew exactly what it meant.
She was in serious trouble.
Grace:(Thought) Damn it… they've found out. I have to escape. I can't get caught.
The Ice Box… my life, my career… everything I've worked for will disappear.
No. I won't let that happen. Not today. Not ever.
Her expression hardened.
In one swift motion, Grace reached into her pocket and pulled out a small glass sphere and hurled it onto the floor.
The instant it struck the ground, it burst open, releasing a thick cloud of smoke that rapidly filled the room and completely obscured Nathan's vision.
By the time the smoke began to clear—
Grace was gone.
Nathan:(Thought) What—? When did she—? No… that's impossible. She didn't leave this room. I closed the door myself. There's no way she could have escaped that quickly.
Which means… She's still here. Somewhere. Better start looking.
Nathan slowly scanned the room, searching for any sign of her presence.
Then—
A lipstick from the dressing table suddenly lifted into the air.
Before Nathan could fully react, it shot toward him at tremendous speed.
Nathan immediately extended his hand and launched a fireball to intercept it.
The two objects collided.
Instead of simply knocking the lipstick aside, the moment they touched, violent energy erupted outward, releasing a sudden burst of explosive force.
A sharp shockwave rippled through the room.
The windows cracked.
The smoke triggered the hotel's fire alarm, and throughout the building, panicked guests began evacuating.
Nathan lowered his hand slowly, frowning.
Nathan: That's strange.
He looked down at the scorched lipstick fragments.
Nathan: When my fireball hit that lipstick… it should've just fallen to the floor.
His eyes narrowed further.
Nathan: Instead, it exploded like a bomb. Something about this room is wrong…
A realization began forming in his mind.
Nathan: It can't be… Just like the beauty pageant… she—
Suddenly, the plates from the catering cart shot toward Nathan without warning.
Their edges spun through the air like whirling saw blades.
One sliced across Nathan's palm, cutting through the skin as easily as a knife through pizza dough.
Nathan barely flinched.
Nathan: Now I understand what her ability is.
He glanced toward the mirrors scattered across the room.
Nathan: Apparently, she can slip inside a mirror… and alter the properties of objects without changing their appearance.
His eyes sharpened.
Nathan: Time to make my move.
Two seconds passed without further injury, and the cut across Nathan's palm healed itself instantly.
In the next moment, flames gathered in his hand, shaping themselves into a blade of fire.
Nathan moved with precision, effortlessly deflecting every object that flew toward him.
Plates shattered.
Glass cracked.
Metal utensils clattered across the floor.
Nathan raised his hand and aimed toward the mirror—
But at the last second, he redirected his aim toward a gas cylinder nearby.
Nathan: Let's test something.
He knew a normal fireball wouldn't be enough.
So he switched to heavy ammunition.
A dense projectile of compressed flame formed in his palm — roughly the size of an RPG shell.
Its destructive force far exceeded that of his standard attacks.
Nathan fired.
The projectile struck the gas cylinder.
A deafening explosion erupted.
Fire flooded the room as the blast tore through furniture and shattered the remaining glass.
For a brief moment, Nathan caught sight of Grace.
She stumbled out from a nearby mirror, her arm scorched by the explosion.
Without hesitation, she dashed toward the door.
Before Nathan could close the distance—
Grace slipped outside and slammed the door behind her.
The lock clicked.